CAF Strips Senegal of AFCON Title, Awards Morocco 3-0 Victory After Final Walk-Off Drama
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board has officially stripped Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, awarding the trophy to Morocco following a controversial ruling.
In a decision announced on Tuesday, CAF declared that Senegal forfeited the final after their players temporarily walked off the pitch in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
As a result, the match has now been recorded as a 3-0 victory in favour of Morocco, overturning Senegal’s earlier 1-0 extra-time win.
According to CAF, the ruling was made in line with Article 84 of the competition regulations, which addresses team misconduct and forfeiture of matches.
How the Controversy Unfolded
The dramatic incident occurred during stoppage time of the AFCON final when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty after a VAR review for a challenge involving Senegal’s El Hadji Malick Diouf and Morocco’s Brahim Diaz.
Angered by the decision—coming shortly after a disallowed goal—Senegal coach Pape Thiaw instructed his players to leave the pitch in protest.
The team later returned after a delay, following intervention led by captain Sadio Mane. Morocco’s penalty was eventually missed, and Senegal went on to score the winning goal in extra time through Pape Gueye.
Morocco Appeal Succeeds
The appeal was filed by Morocco’s football governing body, the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), which argued for strict enforcement of tournament regulations rather than questioning sporting merit.
CAF upheld the appeal, declaring Senegal’s actions a breach serious enough to warrant forfeiture.
Mixed Reactions Trail Decision
The ruling has sparked widespread debate across the football community, with many describing it as unprecedented in AFCON history.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui had earlier condemned the walk-off, calling it a “shameful image” for African football.
Meanwhile, Thiaw admitted after the match that he regretted the decision to withdraw his players, describing it as a reaction made “in the heat of the moment.”
What Next for Senegal?
Senegal may still challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which could determine the final outcome of the dispute.
If upheld, the decision will hand Morocco their second AFCON title, while Senegal’s triumph—and the champion status of players like Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy—will be erased from official records.
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